Nyanja, an African language

Many people think that African is a language, but they couldn't be more wrong. It would be like saying that if Europe speaks European or America speaks American. In fact, around 2,000 different languages ​​are spoken on this continent and 73 of them are spoken in Zambia itself. Among the most widely spoken are Swahili (in East Africa), Amharic (Ethiopia), Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo (Nigeria), Oromo (in the Horn of Africa), Zulu (South Africa)...

The language called Nyanja is one of the most widely spoken in Zambia, proving very useful in Livingstone, where our Tubombele Pamo group resides. In addition to Zambia, it is also spoken in Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. This language is part of the family of languages ​​known as Bantu, which are spoken in the southern half of the continent.

The name Nyanja means "lake", Chinyanja being the "language of the lake", referring to the language spoken by the Chewa tribe and other tribes that have also adapted this language. The pronunciation of this one is quite simple, especially if you are used to the Spanish alphabet and pronunciation, so in general everything is pronounced as it is written, apart from the small words or phrases that can be incorporated literally from English.

Below we leave some of the most common and useful words and phrases for anyone who is interested in visiting the country or is simply a fan of languages.

introduce yourself

Muli bwanji - How are you?

Mwauka bwanji? - How's the morning?

Mwachoma bwanji? - How was the afternoon?

Bwino bwanji - Good and you?

Ndimwe bandani zina? - What is your name?

Ndine Kasonde – My name is Kasonde

Uli na zaka zingati? - How old are you?

Nilina zaka zili 26 years old – I am 26 years old

U sebenza? - You work?

Basic Phrases/Words

Awe- No

eeeee - yes

Chonde - please

Zikomo - Thank you / Sorry

Zikomo kwam biri – Thank you very much

Uncala cuti? - Where do you live?

cuti? - Where are you going?

Uli cuti? - Where are you?

Bwela – Come

Bwellani – Come

Tibwela – Come on

Teinda pa Shoprite– Let's go Shoprite

Iwe – You

Imwe – You

Dzanja lamanzere - left

Dzanja lakuma lile - right

More basic phrases/words

lelo – today

Maylio – Tomorrow

Mumvela – Listen

Mwamvela – Understood?

Wanvela - Do you understand?

Sinamvese – I don't understand

Upanga, chongo – You are making noise, shut up

Chongoni - Shut up

Nifuna kufunsa - I want to ask

Munvela bwanji? - How do you feel?

Mukwanisa kudya? - Are you hungry?

Uacondwela? – Are you happy/satisfied?

Nakondwela – I am happy/happy

Nalema - I'm tired/tired

Nakana - I refuse

Ninkale apa? - I can sit here?

Nikukonda - I love you

Nikukondani – I love you

Muzungu – white person

Bakabwalala - thieves

mupando - chair

Maloo - bed

Mulungu – God

Numbers

modzi-one

wiri - two

tattoo - three

Naji - four

Sanu – five

Sanu ndi-modzi – six

Sanu ndi-wiri – seven

Sanu ndi-tatu – eight

Sanu ndi-nayi – nine

Khumi - ten

Say goodbye

Musale Bwino - Take care!

Muyende Bwino - Fare thee well!

Nsebenza Bwino - Good luck at work!

Naenda - Goodbye

Tisaonana – See you later